Sealing composition for joints in concrete structures



United States Patent SEALING COMPOSITION FOR JOINTS IN CONCRETESTRUCTURES Application December 27, 1952, Serial No, 328,258

2 Claims. (Cl. 106-269 No Drawing.

This invention relates generally to compositions intended primarily foruse in filling and sealing joints in concrete pavements, bridges and thelike, and more particularly to an improved bituminous compositioncontaining wax and cork in such intimate admixture with the bituminousmaterial as to provide highly resilient and adhesive compound capable ofeffectively sealing joints in concrete against the infiltration ofmoisture throughout repeated cycles of expansion and contraction of thejointed structure, and which will not flow from the joint or be pickedup by vehicle tires at summer temperatures.

The material which constitutes the principal part of the joint-sealingfiller of the present invention is a waterin-oil type of bituminousemulsion treated with an amine as described in United States LettersPatent to William W. Allen, No. 2,416,134, granted February 18, 1947.The bituminous emulsion constituent of the present compositionpreferably includes as its basic material a cut-back of hard asphalthaving a melting point of from 115 F. to 130 F., and a penetration offrom 85 to 100. As is well known, such cut-back is obtained bydissolving a bituminous base (asphaltum) in a sufficient amount of avolatile hydrocarbon solvent, such as naphtha, to provide it with therequisite liquidity.

As described in the above mentioned Allen patent, the water-in-oil typeof bituminous emulsion above referred to includes as final constituentsthereof liquified bitumen, a water insoluble fatty acid soap incolloidal state derived as the reaction product of an aqueous solutionof a fatty acid soap mixed with a salt of a heavy metal, e. g., aluminumsulphate, iron chloride or lead nitrate, capable of reacting with thesoap to renderit water insoluble in the presence of the liquifiedbitumen, and an aliphatic amine containing not less than five carbonatoms, the amine being included in free state and in an amount less than1 per cent of the total weight of the emulsion. The amines mostsatisfactorily employed in the preparation of this water-in-oilbituminous emulsions are the aliphatic amines of the class having chainsof from 5 to 20 carbon atoms, this class including not only thesaturated amines but also those having one or more unsaturated linkages.As examples of the saturated aliphatic amines, Allen refers to hexadecylamine, octadecyl amine and dodecyl amine, while as examples of theunsaturated amines he refers to octadecadienyl amine and octadecenylamine.

We have found that by incorporating in the bituminous emulsion of thewater-in-oil type described in the aforesaid Allen patent, wax andcomminuted cork or other suitable fillers, there is obtained a resultingcomposition which serves ideally as a filling and/or sealing materialfor joints in concrete structures, such as the joints provided inconcrete pavements, roadways and bridges to allow for expansion andcontraction of the structure.

The wax employed in the composition is preferably a petroleum wax havinga melting point of from 175 F. to 185 F., a penetration at 77 F. of to18 mm., a

specific gravity of approximately 35.5, a flash point of 2,748,012Patented May 29, 1956 ice approximately 580 F., a furol viscosity of 70to secends at 210 F., and an oil content not exceeding two (2) percent.These specifications are not critical and may vary within reasonablelimits.

The cork employed in the composition is comminuted to a mesh of 50 orfiner, and preferably is of 150 to 200 mesh. In lieu of cork, otherwater-insoluble aggregate may be incorporated in the cut-back asphaltcompo sition, such as granulated rubber, sawdust and other sub-- stanceshaving the capability of imparting to the joint: sealing composition theproperty of not only resiliently resisting compression forces, such asare applied thereto upon expansion of the jointed concrete structure inwhich: the composition is employed, but also of preventing rap-- ture ordisintegration of the composition when the filled joint is enlarged uponcontraction of the jointed structure. The cork or other such filler thusserves as an aggregate: to resiliently bond and hold together thewater-in-oil= bituminous emulsion and wax content of the joint-sealing;composition and to render the same elastic, expansible: andcompressible, in addition to its being highly adhesive.

The primary function of the wax in the composition: is to quick-set thesame after it has been poured into; place, the setting being effectedordinarily at a temperature of about F. In addition, the Wax serves tostabilize the composition against flow under relatively hightemperatures.

The constituents of the composition of the present invention arepreferably present in the following proportions by weight:

Percent Bituminous emulsion 55 to 83 Wax 25 to 10 Cork (or equivalentaggregate) 20 to 7 The resulting composition may be renderedsufficiently fluent for pouring by heating it to a temperature of fromF. to F., in which state the composition not only effectively covers andbecomes bonded to all irregular concrete and like surfaces to which itmay be applied, but also effectively coats and bonds together and to theconcrete all loose particles which may be present in the crevice of thejoint to completely fill the latter without inclusion of air holes orany other discontinuities. Once it has been poured into place, thecomposition, through the action of its wax constituent, sets rapidly andis quickly stabilized permanently against undesired flow even whensubjected to relatively high temperatures. The composition has anexceedingly high degree of adhesiveness to concrete and is permanentlybonded to the concrete which defines the joint and to all loose solidparticles present in the joint, regardless whether the concrete and/orparticles are dry, wet, cold or hot at the time of application of thecomposition thereto.

It will be understood, of course, that the proportions: hereinbeforerecited may be varied within reasonablelimits without departing from thegeneral principles orreal spirit of the invention, and accordingly, itwill be: understood that it is not intended to limit the invention,except as may be indicated by the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. A joint-sealing filler composition for use in sealing joints inconcrete structures and the like comprising a. water-in-oil bituminousemulsion Which essentially consists of a liquified bitumen, a waterinsoluble fatty acid soap in colloidal state derived as the reactionproduct: of an aqueous solution of a fatty acid soap mixed with a saltof a heavy metal capable of reacting with the soap to render it waterinsoluble in the presence of said liquified. bitumen and an amine of thegroup consisting of alkyl and alkylene amines containing from 5 to 10carbonatoms and hasintimately admixed therewith a petroleumi.

wax; and an aggregate of finely comminuted cork, said bituminousemulsion, petroleum Wax and cork being respectively present in thecomposition in the proportions of 55 to 83 per cent, 25 to 10 per centand 20 to 7 per cent of the total weight ofthe final composition,

2. A joint-sealing filler composition for use in sealing joints inconcrete structures and the like comprising a Water-in-oil bituminousemulsion which essentially consists of a liquified bitumen, awaterinsoluble fatty acid soap in colloidal state derived as thereaction product of an aqueous solution of a fatty acid soap mixed witha salt of a heavy metal capable of reacting with the soap to render itwater-insoluble in the presence of said liquified bitumen and an amineof the group consisting of alkyl and alkylene amines containing from 5to 10 carbon atoms and has intimately admixed therewith a petroleum waxand a water-insoluble resilient, finely comminuted and inherentlycompressible aggregate, said bituminous emulsion, petroleum wax andaggregate being respectively present in the composition in theproportions of 55 to 83 per cent, 25 to 10 per cent and 20 to 7 per centof the total weight of the final composition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES. PATENTS265,183 Tichenor Sept. 26, 1882 482,899 Grunsweig Sept. 20, 18922,393,022 Clark et al Jan. 15, 1946 2,416,134 Allen Feb. 18, 19472,464,759 Camp Mar. 15, 1 949 2,526,537 Camp Oct. 17, 1950 2,526,538Camp Oct. 17, 1950 2,563,499 Smith Aug. 7, 1951

2. A JOINT-SEALING FILLER COMPOSITION FOR USE IN SEALING JOINT INCONCRETE STRUCTURES AND THE LIKE COMPRISING A WATER-IN-OIL BITUMINOUSEMULSION WHICH ESSENTIALLY CONSISTS OF A LIQIFIED BITUMEN, A WATERINSOLUBLE FATTY ACID SOAP IN COLLOIDAL STATE DERIVED AS THE REACTIONPRODUCT OF AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION OF A FATTY ACID SOAP MIXED WITH A SALT OFA HEAVY METAL CAPABLE OF REACTING WITH THE SOAP TO RENDER ITWATER-INSOLUBLE IN THE PRESENCE OF SAID LIQUIFIED BITUMEN AND AN AMINEOF THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ALKYL AND ALKYLENE AMINES CONTAININNG FROM 5TO 10 CARBON ATOMS AND HAS INTIMATELY ADMIXED THEREWITH A PETROLEUM WAXAND A WATER-INSOLUBLE RESILIENT, FINELY COMMINUTED AND INHERENTLYCOMPRESSIBLE AGGREGATE, SAID BITUMINOUS EMULSION, PETROLEUM WAX ANDAGGREGATE BEING RESPECTIVELY PRESENT IN THE COMPOSITION IN THEPROPORTIONS OF 55 TO 83 PERCENT, 25 TO 10 PERCENT AND 20 TO 7 PERCENT OFTHE TOTAL WEIGHT OF THE FINAL COMPOSITION.